Pedri Sparks Dressing Room Tension After Dortmund Loss, Urges Flick to Bench Two Teammates
Barcelona may have secured a long-awaited Champions League semi-final berth for the first time since 2019, but their 3-1 second-leg loss to Borussia Dortmund has stirred unrest behind the scenes.
According to El Nacional, rising star Pedri voiced his frustration in the dressing room after the defeat, openly criticizing the performances of two teammates and urging coach Hansi Flick to take decisive action before it’s too late.
The first target of Pedri’s discontent was Ronald Araújo, who was involved in a costly defensive blunder that led to Dortmund’s third goal. The Uruguayan’s misplaced clearance set up Serhou Guirassy inside the box, drawing sharp criticism from both fans and players.
The second was full-back Gerard Martin, whose display was described as disastrous. Ineffective in both attack and defense, Martin was seen as a major liability throughout the match — a weak link that nearly derailed Barcelona’s qualification.
Pedri didn’t mince words:
“If we want to achieve something big this season… there is no place for these two players in the starting lineup anymore.”
His bold statement reflects growing tension and the sense of urgency within the squad as they approach the business end of the season. With a semi-final clash looming, Pedri’s call for accountability shows that standards are high — and patience is wearing thin.
